I am trying out a lot of crafting ideas that I've never had time for previously;
these include: resin, book-binding, quilling, paper making; however, these are
not ready for public viewing as yet, but watch this space.

What I mainly find myself doing outside of the business tasks and
supporting interests, just for fun, is creating greeting cards for friends and
relatives. I have a Sizzix Big Shot embossing/die cutting machine which is
teriffic, I also use Microsoft Publisher to print photographs and create
artwork, inner sentiments etc. Anyone who has had a go at card making will know that you
cannot put a realistic price on the time and effort involved, but it's nice to
make these one-of's that are personal to the recipient. I thought it would
be nice to share some of my favourite creations here and perhaps inspire others
to be creative. I hope you like them.

A friend was going away to
study art and this was her going-away card. I've used it again for
others who have an artisitic interest and it has always gone down well.
Using the easle provides a good display stand but means it needs a box
rather than an envelope.

The drawn/cut out, card front was photographed
against tissue to make the picture insert for the locket. Createdfor a
Librarian who teaches Scottish Country Dancing appreciated the Dewey
decimal classification number (for Scottish Country Dancing) printed on
the skirt for the locket graphic.

A variation on the 'impossible' card - plus lots of Sizzix embossing
and die cuts, finished with jewels to make a very girlie card for a
sweet 10 year old.

My own photograph of a rose from a bouquet (I don't just enjoy
recieving the flowers, I also takes lots of photographs!). This
card for a friend's 80th birthday.

2 variations of bookmark size cards using inserts and coordinating
stick-ons. Heather from my Scottish garden on the right.

Another gate die that gives a card
within a card feeling. Silver card and butterly-embossed
paper inner (a little change to
the more usual embossing of the card front.

My first piece of quilling - I added it to a
gift box being given fr an anniversary.

Going on a cruise ship soon and
celebrating in style, so this anniversary card is in the form of a
tuxedo; the open card incorporates special memory photographs on the
left and details of the forthcoming trip on the right. There was
a lot of detail to get right here but worth the effort.

A nine piece jigsaw die offers so
many possibilities! This card was for an 8 year old boy whose dad
pilots this particular type of aircraft. The jigsaw starts off in
a plastic zip-bag and when made up fits within the wooden frame on the
front of the card. The card was a window aperture which allowed
the backing for the opening to be glued in place.

A shaker card using die cuts for the
jar aperture, the shaker jar is made from acetate rectangles and filled
with small die cut keys in double-sided gold and silver card. The
inner is printed on coordinating paper which shows through the acetate
jar to give a background colour.